News Summary
The Georgia Department of Education has announced the return of cursive writing lessons in public schools, starting with students in grades three to five. Beginning next school year, all students will learn handwriting from kindergarten through cursive writing, aiming to improve literacy rates and writing fluency. While the initiative has support from some educators and parents, critics raise concerns about its relevance in a technology-driven world. The department will also provide guidance for parents to assist their children with the transition to cursive writing.
Atlanta, Georgia – The Georgia Department of Education has announced the reintroduction of cursive writing lessons into the state’s English language arts standards, set to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year. This change marks the first time in years that cursive writing will formally be included in the public school curriculum, targeting students in grades three through five.
Beginning next school year, all public school children will begin their handwriting education in kindergarten, culminating in cursive lessons that will be specifically introduced in the third, fourth, and fifth grades. This return to cursive comes after previous educational standards did not emphasize handwriting as a core skill for students.
The push for cursive writing instruction highlights the belief among educators that students should graduate with a range of competencies, including essential handwriting skills. While the initiative has garnered support among some parents and educators, others are questioning its necessity, arguing that instructional time might be better spent on technology-related skills.
For parents like Brittany Klein, the value of teaching cursive writing is doubtful, as she has observed that her children often forget how to write in cursive shortly after learning it. Critics like Klein express concern that cursive may not align with the current technological landscape, where typing and digital communication are prevalent.
Despite the mixed opinions among parents, supporters of the new standards assert that cursive writing provides significant educational benefits. Research suggests that cursive writing is generally faster than print and contributes to improved writing fluency. In addition, it allows students to focus more on conveying their thoughts rather than merely forming letters.
Particularly notable is the potential positive impact of cursive writing on students with dyslexia. Experts in education believe the continuous motion required for cursive writing can aid these students in overcoming challenges associated with the condition, promoting better writing skills and cognitive development.
The implementation of cursive writing in the classroom will be geared toward enhancing overall literacy rates in writing, reading, and spelling among students. To aid in this transition, the Georgia Department of Education will distribute a guidance packet to parents, encouraging them to support their children as they learn handwriting.
In the curriculum for third graders, students will be instructed in both reading and writing in cursive. The focus for fourth and fifth graders will shift towards practice, aimed at improving fluency and developing automaticity in their handwriting skills.
The Georgia Department of Education is also promoting a standardized approach to cursive writing by providing examples of styles such as Zaner-Bloser and D’Nealian. This uniformity is designed to streamline instruction and ensure consistency across schools.
The importance of writing extends beyond basic education, as educators highlight that writing reinforces memory retention. Experts agree that the practice of cursive writing is not only crucial for literacy skills but also supports overall brain function. As the rollout of the new standards approaches, educators and parents alike are poised to see how the reintroduction of cursive writing will impact students in the years to come.
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HERE Resources
Georgia to Reintroduce Cursive Writing in Elementary Schools
Additional Resources
- Georgia Recorder
- WJBF
- Axios Atlanta
- Fox 5 Atlanta
- Statesboro Herald
- Wikipedia: Cursive
- Google Search: cursive writing education
- Google Scholar: cursive writing benefits
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cursive
- Google News: cursive writing in schools
